PHOENIX -- The Dallas Cowboys will get an extra preseason game this year, as they will face the Miami Dolphins in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, on Aug. 4. That game is the first of the NFL preseason and is part of the celebratory weekend that includes the Hall of Fame inductions the night before.

Perhaps more importantly for the Cowboys, starting the preseason early means they'll be able to report to training camp early and get one more week's worth of practices than any other team (except the Dolphins). Last year, the Cowboys' preseason opener was the last game of the preseason's first week, which meant they had to start training camp later than every other team. They unsuccessfully petitioned the league to allow them to report earlier. This year, they'll be able to get a jump on camp.